TESTIMONY - MY FAITH​

‘I GLORY IN THE LORD’

​My story goes from a simple knowledge of God, to a relationship with God. ​For 45 years I was aware of Him, but I made no effort to get to know Him. ​Yet through all that time I could see the hand of God in His creation. ​​

‘I GLORY IN THE LORD’by Rex Woodmore 2015

It’s an honour to glory in what the Lord has done in my life. 1 Corinthians 1:31 “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord”

When talking about oneself, it’s difficult, to avoid those selfish words ‘I’ & ‘Me’ If you think I’m boasting- then you’re right! …But my boasting is not of me. I boast or ‘glory’ of how, even before I acknowledged Him, the Lord cared for me, protected me & on several occasions saved my life, from a physical death. If I had died, I would have perished in Hell. ​But in 2 Pet. we see The Lord is longsuffering towards us & not willing to see any of us perish, but that all should come to repentance.

My story goes from a simple knowledge of God, to a relationshipwith God. For 45 years I was aware of Him, but I made no effort to get to know Him.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Eventually after many years, I thanked The Lord for His love, grace & mercy. I came to repentance and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord & my Saviour. Once again, He saved my life, but this time, it was from an Eternity in Hell. Praise God! My sins are forgiven - I am a New Creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

As human beings, created in God’s image, we each have value, meaning, and purpose in the plan of God. I have no doubt God uses the influence of others to make each of us a unique individual. In my story, I must include my earthly Father & others (unbelievers & believers) who served God’s purpose in making me what I am today. But I don’t glory in what they did, because compared to that of my Heavenly Father, their contribution is of no significance. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 ​

SO THE STORY BEGINSMy readings are from the New King James Version

I believe that God had a plan & purpose for me, when 70yrs ago, as the last of Hitler’s bombs fell on London, I was shaken from my Mother’s womb.

In Jeremiah 1:5 God Said “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”

My first religious experience was when a Church of England minister, subjected me to child abuse, by way of infant baptism. He poured water over my head. To which I objected loudly, but I may as well have been speaking in tongues, because no one took any notice of my indignation. Sadly as non-believers my parents were spiritually dead & ignorant of their responsibilities. We are told in Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go…”

My family must have seemed like people on the run, never forming close friendships & constantly on the move. I had birthdays in Egypt, Cyprus, Mauritius, East Africa, England & my Ninth birthday here in Australia.

Dad was a ballistics expert, with training in all aspects of guns, rifles, ammunition & defences. He was employed in the London war office, where his personal decision, resulted in the mounting of two navel guns, on Rottnest Island. Sadly he never got to see them. Even sadder (perhaps the day before he died) Dad said “The older I get the less I believe in God”My Dad’s name was Philip. Jesus said to Philip Have I been with you so long and yet you have not known Me. Jn 14:9

Dad showed no commitment to faith or religion. In India, when he married the Regimental Sergeant Major’s daughter, he converted from Catholic to Church of England. I respected Dad, but in Psalm 14:1​The fool has said in his heart, “There isno God.”

Apart from being almost 20 years older than Mum, I thought Dad was a regular Dad. It never occurred to me that not everyone’s Dad spoke several languages, was a photographer who developed his own photos & movies, regularly communicated by Morse code, and always carried a loaded revolver. ​When Dad died, it was revealed that in 1947, when we arrived in Egypt as the only civilians on a naval ship, his job as a Government Lands Officer, was a cover story, for his Military Intelligence work with the PDU (Photographic Development Unit) Codenamed MI4….. My Dad was a British spy!

When we arrived in Kenya, it was the start of what became known as the Mau-Mau uprising between 1952 & 1960 involving the Kikuyu people who coerced servants, cooks & labourers, to murder their white employers. Today most Kikuyu claim to be Christian. But back then, while swearing allegiance to the Mau-Mau, they drank blood in a satanic ritual.

I’m sure it was no coincidence we were in Kenya at that particular time. Both Mum and Dad, who spoke fluent Hindustani & French, also spoke Swahili, the most common language of the Kikuyu people & the Mau-Mau. In Kenya Dad slept with his revolver under his pillow. One night intruders stole the clock from beside Mum & Dad’s bed. We awoke to our African cook shouting in Swahili ‘Bad men Bwana-Bad men’. Dad, the ‘Bwana or Boss’ leapt out of bed & fired into the bush after the ‘Bad men’. It was a moonlight night, so Dad was able to identify one of them in a police line-up. He had been arrested for the murder of another white couple. From then on, our mud brick house, in the midst of Banana palms on the edge of the jungle, was booby trapped with strings tied to tin cans. If they rattled in the trees, the resident family of noisy monkeys would have soon awoken us with their screeching.

My school in Mombasa, with its flowers & trees, was the only school I liked. My next school in England, with its stone walls & iron gates, was like a prison. My teacher sent home a note for my parents. Apparently, I’d been telling lies, all sorts of nonsense, like having seen the pyramids in Egypt and monkeys in Africa. In my defence, Mum gave a talk to my class about our adventures, showed them our souvenirs and Dad’s black & white, family photos.

But that led to jealousy & me becoming a target of bullies. When threatened, my God given Adrenalin kicked in. I became the ‘Incredible Hulk’ and applied Dad’s self-defence training of ‘Punch in the stomach, Punch in the face & Run’ When I heard I’d smashed one kid’s spectacles and busted another kid’s front tooth, I wasn’t without compassion for them….. But hey! No more bullying!

I wasn’t into pain, mine or other peoples, so from then on I used diplomacy. I talked my way out of trouble or I ran. A punch was my last line of defence. In Matt 10:16 we read ..In the midst of wolves... Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

I was glad to leave England & learning to swim in the ship’s pool was a great confidence booster and very useful in Australia. Customs officers at Fremantle were horrified when Dad declared his revolver, which they confiscated.

In Australia, life was very different for us. We became regular Church goers.

We went once at Christmas time & once at Easter. In the first year in Australia, Mum & Dad looked after aboriginal boys at the Kenwick branch of Sister Kate’s home. Here I began to go to Sunday school (I say I ‘began’ because I never actually got there). I was sent off with the Home boys to walk the mile down Royal Street, but when we got to the local church, the boys kept on walking. I had no desire to go to school on a Sunday (or any other day for that matter) so I willingly followed them to the shop around the corner, where with the threepence, that we each had for the Church collection money*, we bought ice-cream and lollies. Soon afterwards Mum received a call from the Church asking why she hadn’t sent the boys to Sunday school.

The Canning River was on the boundary of the home. I enjoyed swimming, canoeing & learning about the bush from the aboriginal kids. These happy brown faced Aussies, were my first real friends. Perhaps had I gone to Sunday school I would have recognised Jesus as my friend. Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Dad bought a property in Jarrahdale. My brother 5yrs my senior, preferred to board with people in Kenwick & continued to study at Kent St High School.

Our orchard was 5miles from town on 7 acres. The house was an uninsulated wooden shed with no electricity. Our water came untreated from the creek & there were no neighbouring kids to play with (but that was nothing new for me). Surrounded by Jarrah forest, I was happy & content in my own company. The Apostle Paul said in Phil 4:11 ‘’I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”

I have wonderful memories of Dad teaching me to fire a rifle, trap rabbits, and other bush skills (that I now appreciate) but where to prove, of little use in the middle of Hay Street, Perth, in my first job as an Apprentice hairdresser.

In Jarrahdale Primary School I had my first and best scripture teacher. Although it took 4 decades to germinate, I think he sowed the seed of my faith. Like Dad, he was a real man, with interesting stories, some of which were literally ‘out of this world’. He’d been an underground miner, but now was the local Anglican Minister. One message that made an everlasting impression on me, was that God made the birds, animals, trees and all the amazing things, I had experienced in forests, jungles, deserts, beaches & mountains around the world. At 10yrs old, I had seen so much of God’s creation to be thankful for. In the days before TV, night after night, I would lie in the grass on my back & look to the heavens. I peered further & further, through the glory of the Universe. ‘’How far does it go? Is there no boundary? Is there nothing beyond? What does nothing look like? Is there a Heaven & Hell? Is there a God?’’…. I’d get a headache just thinking about it….. Deep thoughts for a child! Psalm 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.

Perhaps it was the start of my acceptance of things by faith when, while trying to fathom the beginning & the end, I came to the conclusion ‘It is-what it is’ Now I believe through His Creation Jesus was saying to me ‘’I Am-That I Am’’ Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

We moved to Gosnells & Armadale High School. I was about thirteen when I climbed the face of a disused quarry. Almost to the top I was stopped by an overhang of rock. The footholds behind me crumbled, I could only go up. Too far for people to hear, I called out “God please save me!” Then in a literal leap of faith, I jumped & seemed to be lifted up & over to the top of the quarry.

I sat trembling as the Adrenalin wore off, and realised something inexplicably special, had happened - God heard me & saved me! I have been back several times-I am amazed & believe only God, could have lifted me over that ledge. Psalm 34:4I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

You won’t need much convincing when I tell you: “I have a mental problem!” Thanks to Google I now know I have Dyscalculia, which is to numbers what Dyslexia is to words. In Kenya it’s linked to childhood Malaria, which I had a serious dose of while I was there. If a kid can’t grasp numbers, then he fails miserably (as I did) in Maths, History, Woodwork, Metal work, etc, etc. They all use numbers in calculations, measurements, historic dates & so on.

My outstanding results for Biology and Art could never make up for my humiliating failure in all other subjects. To me High School was a frustrating waste of time! I felt that I could learn more at home with my dogs in the forest or by looking out the window at the birds nesting in the trees of the school grounds, than I could from a meaningless blur of numbers on a blackboard.

[Now, what I am about to tell you, I’m sure you will not immediately believe, I expect you to be like my doubting English, School teacher. However, before you get the school bullies onto me, please hear me out]

I desperately wanted to leave school, but I needed guidance to find a job.

Amazingly, God sent the Angels to guide and help me. That’s right! God sent the Angels to guide and help me. You are right to doubt me, but it is true! Psalm 91:11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.

You see, there was a girl whose name was Dianne Angel and her Dad owned ‘Angel’s Barber Shop’ in Gosnells. I was interested in becoming a Men’s Hairdresser and the Angels gave me guidance and helped me. Mr Angel suggested that Ladies Hairdressing was more interesting and better paid. God’s timing was perfect. Mum’s hairdresser was opening a new salon in Perth & signed me up as an apprentice. Two weeks later at14yrs old, I began my 5year Ladies Hairdressing apprenticeship. I liked the job & even though the girls didn’t like me as much as I liked them, we worked well together.1 Thessalonians 4:11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,

I recognised a need to balance my life with a manly physical activity. Having been alone as a kid, I wasn’t into football or other team sports. I couldn’t afford Skydiving & for some strange reason rock climbing, had lost some of its appeal, so I joined a self-defence class and for a year practiced Ju-Jitsu. But all I seemed to learn was to fall on my back without being hurt. Not much use I thought. But God in His infinite wisdom knew otherwise. About fourteen years later, I fell straight backwards with my boot caught in a pallet rack and my head aimed at the concrete. But in a flash, I remembered ‘’Roll my head forward & slap the concrete with my hands to break the fall” I was alright. But I thought I might need an ambulance…., not for me…, but for the guy who saw me fall, when he went pale, giddy & almost fainted.

At 16, I was one of the youngest members of the Underwater Explorers Club. At 18, I had the same qualifications as the WA Police divers, who were also trained by the UEC. Although confident, I was no hero. Shark attacks were never far from my mind. I was diving through, what can only be described as a valley, when a dark shadow past over me, I shuddered & for comfort gripped my hand spear. Then Psalm 23:4 learned in primary school came to mind: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil For you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

The most impressive shipwreck I dived was the 1656 (VOC) Vergulde Draeck or Gilt Dragon. Like a school boy’s adventure story, its treasure included Elephant tusks, Earthenware jugs, at least 18 cannon and an incredible 40,000 silver coins, including Spanish pieces of eight. When she sank, she took with her, the lives of 118 men. 300 years later, she almost claimed my life too!

While snorkelling, I was caught off guard by the first of three massive King waves, that crash at irregular intervals, over the reef. I was hurled onto the sharp rocks & my mask & snorkel was torn from my face. I tried to drop my weight belt, but the safety release jammed. When I raised my head for a gulp of air, the weights dragged me down. I thought after the third & last wave, I would be safe, but on that day (that had begun with mirror calm waters) there was an unheard of six king waves. After the fifth wave, totally exhausted, stunned & bleeding, the fight & breath had been knocked out of me. I gave up! This was the end of my 19 years on earth and I knew I would soon be sucking seawater and sand, into my aching, empty lungs.

In a surreal, silent moment, my life replayed in front of my eyes like a movie. In the final scene I saw my lifeless body, blue and bloated, slowly drifting backwards & forwards amongst the weed. I knew I was on my way out of this world and briefly I wondered where I was headed, Heaven or Hell. Terrified, once again I screamed out to the God that I wasn’t sure I believed in “God please save me!” With that, the sea calmed & the last of the waves gently lifted me (just like I was lifted at the quarry) and rolled me, like a bag of bones, over the reef. I was a long way from the boat, the weight belt was still jammed and I was in the deep water where the sharks waited for an easy feed, of stunned & injured fish. Now for help, I shouted to man. Eventually my dive partner reached me & cut through the weight belt. On the long swim back to the boat, my rescuer saw a shark (a three metre Bronze whaler) ‘sniffing’ at my cut and bleeding legs. On the boat I thanked him, but to my shame, I didn’t thank God. But I do now. For me there seems to be a special message in:​ Matthew 14:30 when Peter was afraid & beginning to sink he cried out “Lord, save me!” & immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, & the wind ceased.

In my travels, I had seen much of the occult. I don’t glory in it. Suffice to say I experimented with such things. In Deuteronomy 18, God tells us to avoid wicked customs like witchcraft, soothsaying, interpreting omens, sorcery, or calling up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord. Seeking the supernatural, one can be lured into communicating with demons. 2. Cor. 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

We are never far from satanic forces. Today on the Internet one can easily be conned into communicating with those who are not what they may seem. 1 Peter 5 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. God could have surrendered me to darkness, but He delivered me from evil. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work & preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! 2 Tim 4:18

My life took a sudden, unexpected turn, when I won an Australia wide lottery. My prize included: traveling expenses, a complete wardrobe of clothes, meals, accommodation & spending money for 2yrs… in the Army.A classic example of “There’s no such thing as a free lunch” On the first Sunday of National Service we had a choice of Church or marching. I followed the others to the Chapel & wondered if there might be a lolly shop just around the corner. It was a pleasant surprise to find that the Army Chaplin was my, primary school, scripture teacher and after ten years, he still knew my name. (I didn’t know that God knew me, by name, even before the creation of the Universe). Church renewed my appreciation of God’s Creation. Puckapunyal was an unfamiliar dry landscape. It was Victoria & not my home of Western Australia, but in the bush, I was content. I guess it puts a new slant on- Phil 4:11 ‘’I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”

Out of the army and back in Western Australia with a successful hairdressing business in Dalwallinu, I was driving my MGB sports car, much faster than I should (as I always did) through Wongan Hills, when for no apparent reason I slammed on the brakes & skidded to a standstill in a cloud of dust, dangerously close, to the edge of a steep drop. My passenger flashed a look at me as if I was crazy. A split second later, a sheep truck came hurtling around the bend on my side of the road & almost hit us. Had I not pulled over, we would have been smashed down the hill. I’ve been back & can see no logical reason for my actions. There is a saying: “You’re safe, not because of the absence of danger, but because of the presence of God”.

Eerily, about a week later, in the New Norcia Police yard, there was a horribly smashed white MGB, identical to mine, in which the driver had been killed.

I never felt particularly skilled at anything, but I did have a knack for getting employment. I moved on from hairdressing & into any work that promised big money, including six months, on what was at that time, the largest offshore drilling rig in the world, North Rankin ‘A’. One day, for no apparent reason, I had an urge to leap back behind a big pylon. A steel drill cable, snapped & cracked like a whip, near where I’d been standing. Today I thank the Lord I was safe & nobody was decapitated. But at the time I offered no thanks to God!

I deserved to be humbled and I was. Employment redundancy from my position as a sales rep, the loss of my company car & expense account, Stock market crash, Failed mineral prospecting projects, Marriage split & Divorce. Then a burglary that robbed me of my shipwreck coins and my Dad’s medals saw me, like a blind fool turn to the Serpentine Buddhists. It was the blind, leading the blind. In Luke 6:39 Jesus said “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? I became a shopping centre cleaner. The supervisor was a Christian. I never guessed, he would leave, I would become the supervisor & I too would become a Christian. We see in Romans 8:30 …whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

In my loneliness, I talked to any shop keeper that was prepared to listen. There was a particularly good listener called Lyn, the manager of a handbag shop, a gracious lady, who listened quietly to me talking about the ‘good’ Buddhists. Then one day Lyn said gently ‘’You know Rex, you don’t go to heaven by being good’ I had no idea what she was talking about. I didn’t even know she was a Christian. My reaction was ‘’Dar!’’ Lyn explained her Christian faith & later I accepted an invitation to a Church gathering with her family. I was pleased to find that her family didn’t include a husband.

It was through Lyn, her Godly parents, brother, two sisters and the Wilson Brethren that I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Soon afterwards I was baptised in the sea in Busselton. My earlier reaction to Lyn of ‘Dar!’’ had slowly become ‘’Dar-ling’’ and Lyn & I were married.

Today, blessed with Christ in my heart & my God given wife by my side, I now know that we all have an inherent knowledge of the one & only true God & in every heart there is a void that can only be filled by the Spirit of God.

I praise God for filling that void & glory in what He has done in my life.